Pet Insurance in an Auto Accident
Video Transcript:
Cindy Speaker: What you do when your pet is injured in an automobile accident? That’s our topic on this episode of State Law TV. My guess today is South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney George Sink of George Sink Injury Lawyers. So George Sink, welcome.
George Sink: Well thank you, Cindy, Speaker. I’m glad to be here.
Cindy Speaker: Well, George, for many, pets are important part of the family and a lot of people enjoy taking their pets with them when they go on the road. But what happens when your pet is injured or killed in an automobile accident?
George Sink: Well, (00:00:38) to someone else, you can bring a claim for the lost. Unfortunately, it’s a property damage claim. They consider none humans, you know, a car, a dog a property. So, it’s a property damage claim so you have—if there’s (00:00:54) fault driver, you can bring a property damage claim against him. If it’s your fault, you may need some special insurance or other coverage.
Cindy Speaker: And George, what type of specific insurance will cover your pets injuries?
George Sink: Well. Cindy, many companies have pet injury coverage, and that covers injuries to cats, dogs, animals that you have or the pets of people who live with you. Special coverage that you can get from your insurance company and you have to check with them to make sure it covers the appropriate animals and the appropriate people.
Cindy Speaker: Okay. And when can you use it?
George Sink: Usually when you use your collision coverage. It usually pays for your vet bills, medical treatment, prescriptions and other help that an injured pet would require.
Cindy Speaker: George, how does per injury coverage differ from regular pet insurance?
George Sink: Yes, Cindy, pet injury coverage covers your pet when they’re in an accident in your vehicle. Pet insurance usually covers when their sick or ill, under a multitude of circumstances other than that,
Cindy Speaker: That’s very interesting. George, what are some other tips that might help keep your pets safe in the event of an auto accident?
George Sink: Keep your pet out of the front seat. Now, I have my dog Max and he appears on all my Christmas cards and he is always in the backseat, always. A tip that I don’t follow but might be good for other dogs or cats, especially would be to keep them in a crate. They’re very happy in the crate, believe it or not, they’re (00:02:33) animals originally. So they’re very happy when that’s the case. So, you’re making them happy and you’re making them safe and it really allows them to stay in a safe place, maybe on the ground so they don’t end up as projectiles and injure themselves. So, those are some tips that I’d follow.
Cindy Speaker: Well, George, thank you for calling attention to something that is important to so many, the safety of their pets.
George Sink: Oh, you’re welcome, Cindy, and thank you for having me. I hope everyone out there has the world of safety for their pets. I love them and I know you do, too.
Cindy Speaker: Well, George, in your line of work, handling accident and injury cases, you deal with insurance issues all the time. If someone has specific questions along these lines, how can they contact your firm?
George Sink: At 1-800-849-SINK. You can call toll free, or you can find us on the internet at www.sinklaw.com
Cindy Speaker: Thank you, George.
George Sink: Thank you for having me.
Cindy Speaker: This is Cindy Speaker reporting for State Law TV.
